Did you ever think, while passing by the produce at your grocery store, you could purchase that fruit to make wine? Believe it or not, it is possible to make delicious wine from your average grocery store inventory. Trying out different types of fruit will expand your palate and help you move away from the strict red and white divide. Based on how much you’re looking to spend and the flavor you desire, here are some of the best grocery store fruits for home winemaking.
Bananas
Known for their distinct sweetness and tropical notes, bananas can be used to make an entire batch of wine or can simply be added to another batch. Costing approximately $1.00 per pound, you’ll need 3 lbs of bananas for one batch of wine.
Banana wine is one of the cheaper options when it comes to homemade wine. It also adds a pop of color to your collection, with its vibrant yellow hue. These wine have tropical notes and pair well with desserts.
Try our banana wine recipe and learn the perfect way to cut the fruit without over-processing.
Apples
If you’ve never made wine before, this is a great place to start. Toss about 10-12 lbs. of apples into your cart and try to vary the type and sweetness of your selection. You can also mix it up by using cider.
Wine made from apples pairs particularly well with full-bodied cheeses and desserts. For the perfect recipe try our apple wine recipe. It is easy and straight forward and perfect for anyone interested in making fruit wine at home.
Cranberries
Cranberries are perfect for wine drinkers who tend to prefer varietals that are on the bitter side. Those who don’t can throw in a sweeter fruit like an apple or banana to enhance the flavor. At $4.00 a pound, you’ll need about 3 ½ lbs. of fresh cranberries.
We recommend sipping some cranberry wine in between bites of game. Adventures in Homebrewing’ recipe for cranberry wine will also give you important details about preparation methods and fermentation times.
Once you’ve chosen your fruit, it’s time for to get your hands dirty. For beginners, starting with an all-inclusive kit will suit you well when navigating the ins and outs of home wine production – all you need to get is the fruit. For more fruit winemaking supplies, recipe tips, and a deeper look into the winemaking process, check out our winemaking steps and get started.